In a special live recording at the GovInnovate Gov 2.0 Conference in Australia’s capital city Canberra, facilitator John Wells leads an interactive discussion with a panel tackling the big questions about Gov 2.0, open government and the role of citizens in more connected government.

The Open Government Partnership is a 60-nation network and growing. After some two years, Australia’s Federal Government has just committed to joining the OGP. We talk with John McMillan, the Australian Government’s Information Commissioner, about what the OGP might mean for a nation well-known for its early adoption of Gov 2.0 and other forms of connected government.

Most of the time, we talk about or experience collaboration in the context of a tangible project or an initiative, but how does it work when you are trying to progress an issue where there isn’t a known pathway? Max Hardy talks about the differences between consultation and collaboration, and how “inviting people into your dilemma” can lead to more enduring solutions, and how complexity theory can help shift your perspective.

In a special live recording of a panel session at CeBIT Gov 2.0 Conference in Australia’s capital city Canberra, facilitator John Wells leads an interactive panel discussion on how a culture of Gov 2.0 impacts the relationship of citizens to government, and within government; the connections between e-government, social media and open government as well as the risks, rewards, and potential of open and connected government.

Open access to Government information is a key element of the open government discussion, both in policy and practice terms.

Baden Appleyard shares his experience in developing and applying the Australian Government’s Open Access and Licensing Framework, and highlights the opportunities and challenges faced in opening up information from Governments as well as public research bodies through licensing options such as Creative Commons.

The Black Saturday fires devastated Australia and shocked the world. Now, the Country Fire Authority of Victoria has become a leading example of the use of social media for emergency management, winning this year’s Australian eGovernment award.

The Open Technology Foundation is a new Australian-based organisation that is a hub for technology and people networks in government to share, reuse and co-invest in open technology initiatives across the public sector.